Zheng Jie, Yan Zi march through to Australian Open final
(AP)
Updated: 2006-01-25 13:39

Chinese duo Yan Zi and Zheng Jie beat Japan's Shinobu Asagoe and her Slovak partner Katarina Srebotnik to advance into the Australian Open women's doubles final in Melbourne on Wednesday.

The 12th seeds won 6-2, 7-6 (7-2) in 85 minutes on Margaret Court Arena.

It is the Chinese pair's first Grand Slam final and caps a breakthrough 12 months in which they have won two doubles championships, at Hobart and Hyderabad last year, while reaching the quarter-finals of the US Open.

Zi Yan of China, foreground, returns a shot as compatriot Jie Zheng looks on during women's doubles match against a pair Shinobu Asagoe of Japan and Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia at the Australian Open Tennis Tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan 24, 2006. Chinese pair won the match 6-2, 7-6 and reached the final game. [AP]